In a workshop organized by the Construction & Transportation Research Center (CTRC), experts discussed the impact of the Israeli procedures on the freedom of movement. They highlighted the restrictions Israeli occupation forces have imposed over the freedom of movement of Palestinian people and goods, creating dozens of check points for inspection. Besides the construction of the wall, the number of checkpoints during the year 2006 were estimated to be around 471. The separation wall has been built up since 2002 along nearly 670 kilometers, affecting many Palestinian people’s life as it separates agricultural lands from the farmers, thus supressing their only source of income. Furthermore, the separation wall has disconnected almost 46% of local roads situated behind it, affecting many of the transportation services used by residents of the area.
The experts also referred to the discrimination by Israeli settlers using certain roads while Palestinians are forbidden to access them. These roads have checkpoints that make it hard for Palestinian to have a free access to them. The lecturers highlighted how industry and agriculture in Palestinian territories are getting worse, the market loosing industrial companies such as the stones quarries that lost almost 20% of its production. With regards to the agricultural production, people face many difficulties to reach their lands and consequently can’t get their crops.
The Construction and Transportation Research Center (CTRC) of An-Najah National University was established in the year 2000. The general aim of this center is to use available resources of the university’s Department of Civil Engineering to support projects and research studies on subjects such as construction and transportation engineering. Furthermore, the center focuses on serving the Palestinian society by conducting laboratory testing and technical studies in different fields of interest.